After he disappeared, the sword cultivators exchanged glances, hesitant yet compelled by an unshakable curiosity. They peered through the open doorway, glancing warily at the scene inside. Leaf Ziyan lay unmoving on the floor, her once-mighty presence reduced to a figure in disarray, her final expressions twisted in agony and shock, forever imprinted in their minds.
"That… that power…" someone murmured, a shiver running through the crowd.
And in that moment, every sword cultivator in the Blue Soul Sword Sect realized: Yun Xiao had risen, and his fury was an indomitable force that not even the elders, nor their tradition, could restrain. As they dispersed, minds reeling, a new understanding settled—a change had come to the sect, embodied by the very man who had just vanished into the night.
The news of Yun Xiao's actions at the Sword Cloud Building reverberated throughout Blue Soul Mountain like a thunderclap. His ruthlessness and audacity had stirred the sect to its core. Not only had he slain multiple elders, but the slain included figures from First Jianfeng, Third Jianfeng, Sixth, and Seventh Jianfeng, including two formidable law enforcement elders, Wu Resolute and Yao Lie. Most shockingly, among the dead was Leaf Ziyan—the chosen disciple of Ye Tiance, the esteemed sword reverer of First Jianfeng.
In the Sword Cloud Building, grief and fury ran high. The gathered crowd watched as Ye Tiance, his face twisted in rage and sorrow, lifted the plain white cloth covering his daughter's form. He froze at the sight, his hand trembling before he dropped the cloth, stumbling back in shock and rage, colliding with Yao Manxue.
"Quite ruthless! The houseboy is ruthless!" Yao Manxue muttered, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. Her gaze shifted to Ye Tiance, unable to mask her concern. As she considered the calamity Yun Xiao had caused, she feared that the young man might well have set his sights on all of First Jianfeng's line, risking even Ye Tiance's other disciples and kin.
In the tense silence that followed, Zhang Jian, the seventh sword reverer, located the remains of Elder Yu Xuanzhou, his face paling as he looked upon the ruin. Cold anger washed over him, the severity of the attack cementing his resolve. This massacre had shaken the very foundation of their hierarchy, testing the patience and pride of the sect's highest ranks.
"Summon Shangguan Yu, Chen Dong, and Li Chenlong! Bring them to the Sword Cloud Building immediately—convene the Sword Reverer Council!" Ye Tiance's voice, fueled by rage, resounded through the hall, quaking the walls with authority. In his mind, this wasn't merely a violation of the sect's rules; it was a grave insult to their very existence and honor.
The proclamation set the building abuzz with whispers. The gathered disciples and elders understood the weight of these words—the council would be called to make an unprecedented decision. In the absence of the Grandmaster, a council of the sword reverers would decide the future of Blue Soul Sword Sect. But one thing was clear: Yun Xiao's rampage would not go unanswered.
One by one, the seven Jianfeng representatives filled the Sword Cloud Building, their faces grave. An ominous atmosphere thickened in the room, signaling the sect's tense readiness to act. Only the Third Jianfeng lacked a full representative, as their reverer and law enforcement elder had fallen to Yun Xiao's blade. In their place, Liu Xuan, a senior cultivation elder, assumed the temporary role. His face betrayed his apprehension—the magnitude of the events left him struggling to steady his nerves.
The Sword Reverer Council was now in session, its purpose dire and its outcome uncertain. But amid the tension, one truth was shared among them: they would either suppress Yun Xiao now or risk the complete upheaval of their sect.
The atmosphere in the Sword Cloud Building was thick with tension as the council convened, each sword reverer and elder keenly aware of the stakes involved. Liu Xuan, Zhang Jian, and the others sat uneasily, their expressions a mix of grief, anger, and determination. Ye Tiance, seething with indignation, hammered the round table, shaking the room and eliciting silent nods from the assembled elders.
"Since the inception of Blue Soul Sword Sect, such a heinous atrocity has never occurred!" Ye Tiance's voice was a fierce rumble, filled with rage. "Yesterday, Zhao Xuanran unjustly killed my law enforcement elder on the street. Tonight, Yun Xiao has brutally slaughtered, even daring to desecrate my daughter's body in front of everyone! These disciples, relying on their status, have openly challenged the very foundation of our sect!"
His words cut deep, resonating with the assembled elders who had witnessed the aftermath of Yun Xiao's rampage. The mention of Yao Lie and Leaf Ziyan struck a nerve, their faces pale, eyes filled with sorrow. Yao Manxue's wrath surged, her voice a fervent declaration: "We must take action! If we allow these perpetrators to go unpunished, what respect will anyone have for our sect? How can we claim to uphold justice?"
Zhang Jian slammed his hand on the table in agreement. "Wickedness must be eliminated! We cannot allow such atrocities to go unanswered!"
Liu Xuan's face bore a troubled expression as he weighed the gravity of their situation. "If we don't act decisively, our credibility will crumble. How can we stand tall as sword cultivators if we allow murderers to roam free?"
As the debate grew heated, the elders exchanged furtive glances. Outside, the whispers of the sword cultivators intensified, many unsure of how to react or what to believe.
"Shangguan Yu!" Ye Tiance's voice cut through the chaos, directing his ire at the second sword reverer, demanding her stance on the matter. "This is a grave incident for Blue Soul's legacy! What do you propose?"
Shangguan Yu, caught in the crossfire of the gathering storm, hesitated. She understood the complexities at play—Ye Tiance's vendetta was fueled by personal loss, yet it could jeopardize their entire sect's future. But revealing the true nature of Ye Tiance's past, including his collusion with evil spirits, would only escalate the conflict. She could see the inevitable trajectory of this discussion, leading to further violence and bloodshed.
"I believe we should act with caution," she finally spoke, her voice steady but laced with tension. "We must not allow our emotions to cloud our judgment. The punishment for Yun Xiao should be decided with clear heads."
"You call for caution in the face of murder and defilement?" Ye Tiance's eyes blazed with fury. "We cannot allow such an evil to exist among us!"
"Then what do you suggest? You want to kill him outright?!" Shangguan Yu retorted, her voice rising. "We need to ensure that any action we take is justified, or we risk becoming the very monsters we claim to fight against."
The argument swirled in the air, charged with the energy of conflicting ideals. Zhang Jian seized the moment to further the cause. "If Zhao Jianxing has failed as a leader, we must address that too. If his disciples are acting with such wickedness, how can he remain our palm teacher? He is the source of this corruption!"
Liu Xuan chimed in, "Yes, it is only logical that we strip him of his position! We cannot be associated with such evil!"
The hall erupted into clamor, voices rising and accusations flying. Shangguan Yu felt the weight of the moment pressing down on her, the realization that the council was teetering on the brink of a decision that could irreparably fracture Blue Soul Sword Sect.
"This is madness!" she cried, her voice breaking through the noise. "Zhao Jianxing has fought valiantly for our sect! He protected us against the northern wilds! You cannot throw away his legacy over the actions of his disciples!"
"But what if his legacy is one of tyranny and bloodshed?" Yao Manxue countered, fury shining in her eyes. "If he cannot control his own people, then what right does he have to lead us?"
The debate grew more heated, each side grappling for dominance. Ye Tiance, sensing the tides turning against him, leaned forward, a steely resolve overtaking his features. "We must unite against this evil! Yun Xiao and those who follow him must be punished, and we will ensure the truth about Zhao Jianxing comes to light. This council is our last chance to uphold our honor and restore our sect's integrity!"
Silence fell as all eyes turned toward Ye Tiance, the gravity of his words hanging in the air. What would the council decide? Would they take vengeance against Yun Xiao, or would they seek a more tempered response? The fate of Blue Soul Sword Sect lay precariously in the balance, and the wrong choice could lead them down a path of destruction.